A humble request for a donation of wire to build a fence at a Montego Bay, Jamaica school has led to a community project that illustrates corporate responsibility-and compassion-in action.
It all started when Sheena Cole asked Diego Concha, general manager of the Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall and Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall, for the wire to be used at the Granville All-Ages School. Cole, who works in the Hyatt Ziva's BiteZ deli and café, has a son and daughter who attend the school.
New to Jamaica, Concha was interested in finding a community project for the two all-inclusive resorts to support.
A firm believer in giving back-and doing so in a hands-on fashion-Concha said, "I knew I wanted to do something; I didn't know what exactly."
Following an initial visit by Concha and the resorts' executive team to the Granville School, the GM knew he'd found what he was looking for.
Located in an economically-depressed area some 45 minutes from the resorts, the school's physical plant needed attention, while its educational efforts could also benefit from some additional love and attention. The Granville 404 Project-the "404" is for the number of students-was born.
"We realized that we as a company would have the greatest impact in partnership with this school, which helps to bring to life our philosophy of taking care of our employees, and in this case, their children. And they, in turn, will take care of our guests," said Concha.
A visit to the school turned out to be a highlight-an unexpected one at that-of a recent press trip to the Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall.
Our group was met by a large gathering of Granville's students and teachers. The kids-with wide smiles and, often, their hand over their heart in the Jamaican fashion-were a pure delight.
There was lots of picture taking, visits during class sessions, a tour of the school's buildings and grounds plus numerous opportunities to talk with the kids. Generally ranging in age from four to 12, the kids shone: open, friendly and curious, articulate and, (well, the boys, anyway), boisterous.
There were also opportunities to talk with the volunteers who were pitching in that day on several projects.
They're an enthusiastic group, clearly happy to routinely take at least a day every month to join in making the school a better place.
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The Rose Hall executive team had developed a task force composed of the resorts' departments and including both managers and non-managers. Their goal: a plan to benefit the structure of the school along with its students' educational and physical development.
The task force came up with a two-year plan outlining specific initiatives that would have the greatest impact, including the following:
-The project transformed a former garbage dump on the grounds into a full-scale soccer field with nets and professional soccer balls. Sanctioned boys and girls teams were created and compete locally, dressed in uniforms that include jerseys bearing the Hyatt Ziva/Zilara name, socks and cleats fitted for each player.
-The only form of "recycling" at the school had been the students' use of old sold bottles as soccer balls. There's now a recycling program that includes bins decorated and placed in every classroom along with a recycling collection at the entrance of the school.
-Volunteers took an unused section at the back of the school-also a dumping ground for garbage-and turned it into a farm and greenhouse. Tended entirely by Hyatt Ziva/Zilara staff, the farm serves not only to provide food for the school but to teach the students the role farming plays in society. The program also features a farm-to-table initiative in which the kids visit the resorts to prepare, with its chefs, items grown in the garden.
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-The principal's quarters, which had been abandoned and decrepit, is being rebuilt by hand by the volunteers and will become a sick bay for children whose parents aren't able to pick them up from school during the day if they're ill.
-Upgrades have begun to the school's library with the goal of adding hundreds of new books.
-Volunteers are also involved in teaching and counseling students. Granville didn't have a Spanish teacher on staff, for instance. Resort staff is now teaching the kids a second language.
-In response to violence in the community, the Hyatt Ziva/Zilara chaplain is assisting Granville's existing guidance and counseling program.
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